Short Summary

Soviet troops from East Germany crossed into West Berlin on Saturday (Many 8) to attend a ceremony at the Russian War Memorial marking the 26th anniversary of the fall of Nazi Germany.

Description

Soviet troops from East Germany crossed into West Berlin on Saturday (Many 8) to attend a ceremony at the Russian War Memorial marking the 26th anniversary of the fall of Nazi Germany.

Wreaths were laid by Soviet Ambassador to East Berlin, Pyotr Abrasimov. the Commander-in-Chief Soviet Forces in East Germany, General A. Kulikov, together with Ambassadors of Eastern block countries.

A Soviet Army sentry, who was shot and wounded by a West Berlin Right Winger last year at the Russian War Memorial, was back on duty this year. The soldier, Corporal Ivan Ivanovitch Tscherbak was seriously wounded last November. This year Corporal Tscherbak was one of two honour guards flanking the huge, white stone war memorial.

SYNOPSIS: Soviet troops marched to the Russian War memorial in West Berlin on Saturday to mark the 26th. anniversary of the fall of Nazi Germany. Mr. Pyotr Abrasimov, Soviet Ambassador to east Berlin attended the wreath-laying ceremony for the first time. Also there were diplomatic delegations from East European countries and high ranking Soviet military men.

One of the two honour guards flanking the huge memorial was Corporal Ivan Ivanovitch Tscherbak. He was seriously wounded last November by a West Berlin Right Winger who shot him in a demonstration staged by National Socialists. He has fully recovered.

Amongst the wreath layers was the Commander-in-Chief Soviet Forces in East Germany, General A. Kulikov. The Russian War Memorial is located near the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichastag - the former German Parliament.

The large contingent of Soviet Troops who marched past the memorial following the wreath laying ceremony, had arrived in West Berlin in several buses. The Soviet Ambassador, Mr. Abrasimov was escorted to and from the ceremony in a jeep guarded by soldiers with fixed bayonets.